Wouldn’t it be nice to know where your food actually comes from? With so many manufactured products these days, it’s difficult to trace whether or not the food you’re eating is authentic. That’s why artisan food and beverages have become increasingly popular to both culinary professionals and everyday consumers. But, like many words, “artisan” and “artisanal” can be tossed around as marketing buzzwords. If you want to know your food’s true origins, it’s important to distinguish between the forged label and the real deal.

What are Artisan Foods?

Encompassing products such as breads, cheeses, wines, oils, and more, artisan food and beverages are handmade using traditional methods. Many artisanal foods are handcrafted in limited quantities by skilled creators, known as food artisans. Using pure, local ingredients, artisanal products are traditionally associated with fresh, non-processed (or minimally processed) foods.

In general, artisanal products fall under the following criteria:

• Made using traditional methods and tools
• Uses a traditional recipe that has been around for hundreds of years
• Handcrafted with care
• Uses very few modern ingredients (preservatives, sweeteners, etc.)
• Establishes traceability in ingredients
• Reflects expertise, tradition, and passion

“Artisan was a term originally applied to those people that create something of value for the community, who through dedication read the expressive form of art in their craft. In a food system that has largely forgotten the magic of food, often referring to it merely as a product, we are committed to being artisans.” – Rose Lawrence of Red Bread

3 Benefits of Buying Artisanal Foods

Food artisans don’t just make food because it’s their job; they create culinary masterpieces because they love the process and they’re passionate about the final product.

Because of the care that goes into each food and beverage, artisan products tend to have a higher quality than those of their mass-produced competitors. This emphasis on excellence results in many benefits for the consumer, including:

1. Quality Ingredients: Artisan foods tend to rely on traditional, centuries-old recipes. This means that the ingredient list isn’t full of artificial sweeteners, added saturated fats, and preservatives. Honoring authenticity is what makes artisan foods so divine, so you’ll be sure to find fresh, organic ingredients that make your body and soul feel good.

2. Proven Techniques: Along with the ingredients, the handmade process of artisanal products has been tried and tested for many years. Modern technology has the ability to mass-produce fast and cheap, but anything made by a food artisan is used with traditional techniques. You will taste the difference!

3. Flavorful… and Meaningful: Artisan products often have a deep connection to a certain region in the world, devoting their reputation to that specific place. Using techniques and ingredients that have been passed down for generations, these products have stories with significance. Because processed food is so popular in today’s society, artisanal food will have a unique, authentic taste that you can’t get in the frozen section of a chain supermarket.

Upgrading your menu with artisanal foods will have your customers swooning. After all, nothing tastes better than food that has been made with passion, care, and hundreds of years worth of love.

Artisan Food Examples

It is now a food trend for consumers and culinary chefs to find interesting food and beverages that use organic, traditional methods in production. To avoid marketing gimmicks, here is a list of genuine artisan foods:

• Bread and baked goods – made with traditional baking equipment and techniques
• Pizza – hand-pressed with premium ingredients, such as par-baked pinsa crusts
• Wine – that uses traditional winemaking practices linked to local soil and specific climate conditions
• Oils and vinegar – produced by hand from traditionally-farmed products
• Cheese – produced by hand using old-fashioned methods
• Fruit Preserves and jams – that use established methods of storing fresh fruit
• Cured meats – organic, sustainable meat prepared using traditional drying, curing, and flavoring techniques
• Coffee beans – hand-roasted and made in small batches

More and more culinary chefs have the desire to incorporate artisanal foods into their restaurants. There is nothing more genuine than a food with wholesome ingredients and a heartwarming backstory.

Be Your Own Food Artisan With Pinsa Romana America

In the days of Ancient Rome, there originated a pinsa recipe so revolutionary, it still graces dinner tables today.

Chef Carlo Pedone, owner of Pinsa Romana America, is honored to reintroduce pinsa crusts to the U.S. market. Chef Carlo refined this centuries-old recipe to enchant modern American palates, perfecting a pinsa crust that’s soft on the inside, crisp on the outside, and simply irresistible.

Pinsa Romana America is serving up authentic Italian par-baked pinsa crusts that are hand-pressed to perfection with the traditional Roman technique. The established blend of non-GMO “0” wheat, rice, soy, and sourdough flours combined with up to 80% water for easy digestibility ensures that no added saturated fats or sugars can come near this wholesome recipe. But more than anything, each pinsa crust is infused with passion and love, honoring our Roman ancestors for creating such a delightful dish.

Pinsa Romana par-baked pinsa crusts give you all the raw ingredients to be a food artisan in your own kitchen. Just top your crust with fresh ingredients, pop it in the oven for a few minutes, and you’re serving up an authentic Roman-style pizza!

For more information on how to add Pinsa Romana America’s artisanal pinsa crusts to your menu, contact us!